FLY VAAYU: CHEAP SHOW-OFF AT THE DUBAI AIRSHOW WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY
Every time I fly to Dubai for exhibitions, I witness the same scene outside the hotels. A Bugatti or Lamborghini pulls up to the entrance, the chauffeur steps out, and hands the wheel to someone walking out of the lobby. It looks predictable — after all, Dubai is exactly the place where many people dream of cruising down Sheikh Zayed Road in a hypercar, showing off status and wealth.
But what happens next is usually very different. The “owner” gets behind the wheel, immediately starts taking selfies, then asks the chauffeur to take photos of him sitting in the car. After that, he switches to video mode, drives off… and returns 5–10 minutes later. The chauffeur takes the wheel again.
End of performance. A cheap show for Instagram.
And then this person goes on to tell friends and business partners about his “great time in Dubai” and supposedly doing business with sheikhs. Some even post stories flaunting bags full of cash — which later turn out to be fake.
I experience exactly the same disgust when I see exhibitors who proudly set up their stands while their companies are buried under debt — unpaid for months. It looks identical to that “Bugatti rental king” who owns the car only for the sake of a 10-minute photo shoot.
VIJAY ARUMBAKKAM, CEO of VAAYU GROUP, personally promised me several times to settle Fly Vaayu’s debts for delivered aviation fuel and handling services for aircraft A6-RMA, covering claims from two creditors. However, over two months he has paid only USD 5,000 out of a USD 200,000 claim. The debt is 10 months overdue.
Yet Vaayu Group has the resources to organize and maintain a booth at the Dubai Airshow. So who is really sponsoring this Fly Vaayu appearance? The very companies whose unpaid claims are listed in the BLACKLIST.AERO Register. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It’s always easy to drink champagne — when someone else is paying for it.
Dear aviators,
I cannot attend the Dubai Airshow this year for family reasons unfortunately. Therefore, please extend my "warmest regards" and "best wishes" to the gentlemen from Fly Vaayu. Booth 2218.
Dear Vijay Arumbakkam,
Perhaps it’s time to trade the image of success for something more grounded and stop owing money to everyone? Otherwise, the story will repeat itself again and again. After all, debt is not new territory for you unfortunately: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09817873/filing-history
The Nano Jets case appears to be a textbook example of alleged fraud within the aviation industry. Following the outbreak of missile attacks launched by Iran against several Middle Eastern countries, demand for evacuation flights increased dramatically. Various opportunists and alleged scammers immediately attempted to exploit the situation, among them an individual named Orkhan Pirverdiyev and his company, Nano Jets.
After the European Business Aviation Association announced the cancellation of the EBACE 2026 exhibition, even the laziest observers said—either publicly or to themselves—“We warned you!”, addressing the organizers. At the same time, the frustration over losing the exhibition as a nostalgic symbol of business aviation mixed equally with anger that market participants had not been heard and were forced to protest with their wallets.
Two years prior to its bankruptcy, SIA SmartLynx Airlines (Latvia) issued an unsecured loan to the Lithuanian company UAB Portlite. This information follows from a letter sent to creditors by the official insolvency administrator of SIA SmartLynx Airlines, Marija Mišina. The editorial team of BLACKLIST.AERO has obtained a copy of this letter.
According to information obtained by the editorial team of the BLACKLIST.AERO registry, Harmony Jets and Harmony Aircraft Services have completely ceased operations.
